This is my favorite day of the week, because you and I get to talk about my absolutely favorite topic: God. Last Wednesday, you learned a simple strategy to gain wisdom and knowledge… straight from God’s Word. (If you missed it, go back and read “Got Questions? Ask God!” That message is actually the first part of a series on this topic, so you’ll want to get caught up to be sure you don’t miss anything!)

I recently did a live spiritual Q&A on our TV/radio show, and the list of questions people submitted just blew me away. Almost half of the questions were about how to hear God’s voice.

Over and over again, the Bible tells us to ask.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7)

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

But after you ASK, do you know how to HEAR? Do you know what God’s voice sounds like? Do you know how to truly listen?

In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

God hears your prayers, and He talks to you. But most people don’t listen. When we don’t hear the answer we want, we go ask someone else, or look for “confirmation.” We look for someone to agree with us. But, that leads to destruction!

While getting to know God’s voice – even when you think you know His voice – it is always good to test and make sure you’re not hearing the other two voices that could be speaking.

The reality is, there are three voices talking to you every day: God’s voice, the enemy’s voice and your own voice. It’s so easy to be deceived into thinking we are hearing God, when in fact, we are listening to the enemy’s voice or even your own. That’s why it is so important to learn how to discern which voice you’re hearing, and to obey God’s voice while blocking the other two.

Today you’re going to learn how to recognize the enemy’s voice.

There is an enemy, and he talks to you. His purpose and his plan is to kill, steal and destroy. He uses intimidation, division, temptation, bondage and lies. But when you know his tactics, it’s EASY to defeat him! The enemy is nothing but a little yappy chihuahua! When you know what his voice sounds like, you start to recognize it. As he whispers lies into your ear, you will be able to say, “Ah, I know what this is! No way, sucker!”

But, God promises us power and authority over the enemy. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”

The enemy also leaves tracks wherever he goes. He leaves his fingerprints all over everything he touches.

In 2004, I had a woman come to me for a coaching appointment. This woman said, “Dani, I don’t know what to do. I’ve been praying and I think I heard the Lord tell me to get a divorce.” I said, “Really? Tell me why.” She said, “Well, it’s nothing against my husband. I love him to pieces. He’s a wonderful man and a beautiful guy. But we’ve had struggles. We don’t hurt each other and we don’t speak ill of each other, but we’ve just lost the love for each other. Not only that, but a man and his wife came to me and said, the Lord told them I was supposed to be his third wife.”

I said, “Third wife? What do you mean by that? Meaning, he’s been married and divorced twice already?” She responded, “Oh, no Dani. All three wives are going to live in the house with him. He said the Lord told him I am supposed to be his third wife. And I am no longer in love with my husband, so I believe the Lord is telling me I am supposed to get a divorce and marry this other man.”

Now, you may be laughing hysterically right now, thinking, “Seriously?!” But let me tell you, we’ve all said things that are just that stupid before. You see, when you don’t know the voice of God, you can be deceived by the enemy. And if you think you can’t be deceived, you are deceived already!

Everything she said went against the Word of God. The enemy’s tracks were all over this situation! But she had been seduced into believing the lies of the enemy and could not recognize his voice. Listening to, and obeying, the enemy’s voice will always lead to division and destruction.

Jesus tells us we are to stand up to Satan’s lies, not bow down to them. Satan hates healthy relationships, healthy finances and healthy bodies.

There is an easy way to see if you are listening to the enemy’s voice or if you’re truly hearing God. Look at the fruit in the situation. Is there seduction, division or destruction? Are people getting hurt? Is there greed involved? Are you making a move strictly better for you, but hurts the people around you?

If that’s the case, there’s a good chance you’re listening to the wrong voice!

This week, really pay attention to those voices. Ask yourself those questions, and evaluate the different situations in your life right now. Take some time to journal about those situations. Ask God to show you where you have listened to and followed the enemy.

Remember, God has given you power through Jesus the Messiah to tread on serpents and scorpions and to defeat the power of the enemy. God Almighty is infinitely stronger than that yappy chihuahua of an enemy!

Check back here on Wednesday, for the next message in this series. Today, you saw how to identify and defeat the voice of the enemy. Next week, you’re going to learn how to recognize one that’s even sneakier and more deceptive – your own voice.

In the meantime, I would love to know your thoughts about today’s message, so post on our social media, and then be sure to share this message with your friends and family!

In great faith,

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